Hometown Heroes honored in Lubec

Maine Senator Kevin Raye (R-Eastport) reads a Legislative sentiment to Maine Marine Patrol Officer Russell Wright at the Lubec selectmen's meeting Thursday night. The sentiment, presented by Raye and State Rep. David Burns, recognized Wright, Joseph O'Brien and Gary Brown for their heroic actions when an arsonist set a mobile home on fire in Lubec in June. There were children and adults in the trailer, Selectman Bill Daye said, and the arsonist stole fuel from a town vehicle and set the mobile home on fire. The family was rescued and the arsonist arrested by Wright. In all, the selectmen recognized 14 people Thursday night as Hometown Heroes. BANGOR DAILY NEWS PHOTO BY SHARON KILEY MACK

LUBEC, Maine — Whether it is a fire, an accident, a fall or illness, visitors and residents can count on people coming to help.

“We have a great bunch of people in Lubec,” First Selectman Bill Daye said Thursday night. “You don’t even have to ask. Just look over your shoulder and they are there.”

Selectmen, state Sen. Kevin Raye and state Rep. David Burns recognized 14 local men and women, presenting each with a signed certificate as Hometown Heroes, as well as signed sentiments from the Legislature recognizing their individual selfless acts.

One of those heroes is Dawn Young, a paramedic with Downeast EMS. Young received a report on July 2 that a young man was unconscious on the rocks below West Quoddy Head Lighthouse.

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The tide was coming in and Young, who does not swim, had to go through the water to get to him. She then had to be boosted atop a 20-foot-tall boulder.

“I’m afraid of heights,” she said Thursday with a laugh.

Once rescued, the man had to be carried in a litter off the boulder, across a rocky coast as the tide rose, and up a steep flight of stairs to a waiting ambulance.

Young, fellow EMS workers, firefighters and Coast Guard members were recognized for their bravery.

“This man was removed to safety on a rising tide,” Daye said. “The Coast Guard landed on what we fishermen know is a very dangerous coast.”

Those honored included Tyler Thornton, Daniel Ladnier, Brian Abel and Michael Aldrich from the Coast Guard, as well as Lubec ambulance and Fire Department members Justin Doran, John Smith, Warren Foley, Timothy Huntley, Walter Plaut, Young and her husband, Dwayne Young.

Three people were recognized for their quick actions when they discovered an arsonist at work at a mobile home on June 20. Maine Marine Patrol Officer Russell Wright, Joseph O’Brien and Gary Brown discovered the fire and rescued an adult and children from the home while detaining the arsonist.

“It is really a privilege for Kevin and I to be here,” Burns told the rescuers. “We have so many first responders in the state of Maine that go above and beyond, and it is rare they get noticed. My congratulations to all of you.”

Raye and Burns also presented the selectmen with a legislative sentiment recognizing that Lubec was named the third-best small beach town in the country this summer by Travel and Leisure magazine.